Tim Russ is most famous for portraying the Vulcan Starfleet Security Officer Tuvok on “Star Trek: Voyager” from 1995-2001. He’s since starred as Tuvok in fan-produced videos and films such as “Star Trek: Of Gods and Men” and “Star Trek: Renegades” (currently in post-production.) He’s done voice work as Principal Franklin on “iCarly” and is currently filming the movie “Unbelieveable!!!!!” alongside Trek alums such as Michael Dorn, Nana Visitor, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig and Armin Shimerman.

But perhaps most exciting is that Russ is a featured guest at StarFest, Colorado’s largest science fiction convention and overall nerd playground, coming to the Denver Tech Center May 2-4.

Read on to find out what Russ says about working on “Voyager“, coming to conventions and the scientific legacy of “Star Trek” today.

I understand that you were actually a Trekkie before you started getting “Star Trek” roles. Had that always been kind of a dream of yours?

I wasn’t really a convention-going fan or anything like that, I just watched the show (“Star Trek: The Original Series”) because it was on all the time back when there were only a few channels. It was either that, or turn the dial and it’s something else … we watched the same series running re-runs forever, so that was one of them. And I think that’s how the show became so well known all over the world because of the initial series being in repeats for so long. I watched the show when it was on in re-runs and I was in college way back when and that’s basically it. I wasn’t going to conventions or anything like that.

But you were a fan?

Yeah I liked the series. And I had a lot of company in that department — a lot of folks liked the show.

I also read that maybe when you came to your “Star Trek” roles, you had maybe some knowledge about the Vulcans?

Yeah, absolutely. Because I had seen the series in repeats for so long I was pretty familiar with it, and I was familiar with the characters, so to be able to walk in and know pretty much how this character walks and talks that was really easy to do. It was to my advantage, let’s put it that way.

What did you do to study for the role of Tuvok?

Initially I just mentally recalled the style of his character and the way the character walks and talks. And on television, it’s always such a visual medium, so you have to look the role, you have to walk and talk the role on camera. And if I could come in and give him the same attitude that this typical Vulcan character would have, then that would be convincing. Also, as far as getting the role, fans would expect to see it. So I was sort of obligated, it’s not like I’m coming in and creating a new character, because that character has already been created. So it came down to portraying this character true to what had already been established already.

Tim Russ (Photo courtesy of Tim Russ)

You also have a range as an actor because you always played a Klingon on “Deep Space Nine.” Do you prefer doing the straight, emotionless Vulcan more, or do you like exploring more the emotions of a character?

You know, playing a character that is very dynamic and in a volatile emotional state is always challenging as an actor — that’s what you study to do. But playing the Vulcan character, everything is done very subtly. It’s all about what’s going on under the surface with the Vulcan characters, it’s not on the top … that’s what that whole character is about. Their history is spent basically learning ways in which they control their emotions, so everything is controlled, everything is pushed down as far as any kind of drama or reactions or human-type nature. So that’s what you play on camera and I enjoy playing it because I’m always juxtaposed as a human being. There’s always that smile that people get when they see the interaction between a Vulcan and a human. It’s because they’re so diametrically opposed to each other.

Tuvok and Captain Janeway seemed to have a real natural friendship. Did you have a good friendship with Kate Mulgrew on the set?

Absolutely, yeah, and she’s a lot like her character. We got along very well, we would joke around with each other and have fun, and at the same time get the work done. She’s a quantum professional, she’s such a consummate actress, she’s so good, she always had the manner and language and she was on top of her game when she showed up. There wasn’t a single day when she didn’t have it together, and it was all we could do to keep up with her. So we had a good time, yes.

(laughing) Well it’s a matter of how you interpret it, but Ethan and I are actually very good friends off the set and have been since. And on the set, that guy is a practical joker from the word “go’ and he’s always trying to get a rise out of you. If I had scenes with him, it was his duty to try to crack me up.

How often did you break out of character?

It wasn’t too often that I broke, but if anybody was going to (make me) do it was going to be (Ethan Phillips.) He was going to make me crack. And like I said, it’s his mission in life to do so, and that’s what he did. It was fun, I enjoyed it, I really did. And it was cool because it broke up the routine of the day. The shooting is just monotonous sometimes so that was actually very cool for me, I enjoyed it.

Now you’re working and directing and co-starring in this fan-produced “Star Trek” movie “Renegades“. How did you come to be involved in that and what’s that like?

“Renegades” actually came to me from the same producer who I worked with on (“Star Trek:) Of Gods and Men.” He just called me one day and told me “we’re doing this project again, it’s a feature film and we’re going to fund it through Kickstarter, and for the story we need Tuvok as the principal character, and we want you to direct it as well.” So, we all put it together and shot it. It’s very impressive and we’re going to hand it over to the (special) effects guys and maybe do a couple of pick-ups.

Do you have a favorite episode from “Voyager” or favorite episodes that you worked on?

I liked “Future’s End” I and II because they involved working off the set in the city of LA, in different parts of the city in the spring, and it was absolutely gorgeous — it was beautiful, it was very cool. I really enjoyed working on the show those two weeks. It was in the city, it wasn’t on the stuffy bridge sets all day long on a sound stage, we were outside in the sunshine, we were having a good laugh as well, we were working with Sarah Silverman that whole couple of weeks, she was the guest star on it. And we just had a great time. That was one of my favorite episodes for that reason primarily.

Do you do many of these conventions and what is that experience like for you as a “Star Trek” actor and a fan of the franchise?

I do between 4, 5 and 6 shows a year. I just booked one for next year again a couple days ago. I’ve done at least 2 or 3 this year and have 3 left this year. They’re everywhere from Australia to England, Germany, Italy — it’s remarkable to me that these conventions still are going on as frequently as they go on, and they are size that they are, and that they are still interested in me. I’m amazed at it, quite frankly.

And what do you think is the importance and legacy of “Star Trek” today?

We are benefiting from the science, from people who have enjoyed the shows in the past, and have gone into those fields and have produced things that will benefit our society or benefit our knowledge. People have been inspired and motivated to go into the science field, everything from astronomy to biology to other things and the science and research and development because they’re inspired by the work that we’ve done. That’s what people have actually told me: “You know I watched that show and I was inspired to study it and become a scientist.”

So we are going to first-hand benefit from some of the people who have worked in these areas and many of them are Star Trek fans, and here they are looking to the future. They are designing and developing things that are going to benefit our future in some way, shape, or form, whether it’s knowledge or practical resources. It’s very cool. I don’t think about that when I’m walking across the set, hitting my marks and saying my lines. I’m pretending to be a character in space and it doesn’t change society, or move or shape anything directly. But indirectly, to the fans who love the show, I’ve been told front and center that this show, or my character or characters from the series, have inspired them.

What are you doing now?

I just finished working on a feature film. It’s an independent comedy about a director who’s a train wreck, and talking to someone else about directing a feature film that’s a really, really intense historical drama. And playing music as well, doing some voiceover work here and there, and some commercials recently and a couple of videos. So I’m keeping pretty busy.

I’m black, and growing up, Tuvok was such a role model for me — to see a strong, black character, keeping it together and saving people, and having adventures, so thanks.

There you go. You’re firsthand feeling the impact of what I’ve done on a show, you’re a perfect example of the impact this character has had on people. When I’m doing it, I don’t think about that until later on after the fact. But yes, true to Rodenberry’s creation, he always strived to portray the future as it would make sense to portray it: so that you have a female captain, you have minorities on the bridge as bridge officers, in powerful, strong dramatic roles…and those are still not as common, I think. So it’s very cool to have the opportunity to be part of that legacy. It’s his vision.

I just wanted to say the episode “Meld” in the second season, I think that’s my favorite of all the Tuvok episodes.

Yeah, we had a couple. I think “Gravity” was good, a pretty decent episode. I actually liked the one with Neelix, using the technology that Arthur C. Clarke had initially championed of an elevator — a space elevator that goes all the way up to space. There are scientists now that are working on that very possibility, working on it, making small prototypes of how a space elevator worked, because you would be able to launch satellites into space without having to using rockets, you could ride all the way up into orbit on a cable. So this is what they’re doing right now and that’s what the whole episode “Rise” was about: A space elevator. That’s where it takes place. That’s kind of cool. I enjoyed it and I thought it was fun to work on.

One more question: How long does it take to put on the ears?

Twenty minutes maybe at the most, the ears and brows. They take molds and they pre-mold the ears so they fit right on your ears, and they put them on there very quickly, they pre-color them and then they just add my makeup over it. So it doesn’t take very long to do it. The eyebrows are all pre-made as well, so it doesn’t take very long for me in the chair, that’s what I can be grateful for.

If you go: Russ will be speaking and signing autographs at StarFest May 3-4 at the Denver Marriott DTC, 4900 S Syracuse St, and the Denver Hilton Garden Inn, 7675 E Union Ave in the Denver Tech Center. For tickets or more information, visit starland.com/wp/starfest/

He’s also playing music live onstage at Starfest: 7 p.m. Saturday in the Main Events room with The Mark Putt Sci-Fi Explosion show.

Joe Nguyen is the online prep sports editor for The Denver Post. He had prior worked with the Post's YourHub section, covering Adams County and Aurora. His obsessions have ranged from comics books and...

A nerd who is intrigued by all things extraordinary and otherworldly. When he’s not working, he can be found in a small room, playing D&D, pretending to be a three-foot gnome who charges dragons while mounted on a fox.